Orach Chayim Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

1 12, 2023

Using “Water Wow!” Toy on Shabbat

December 1st, 2023|Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh, Technology|

QUESTION

Canada

Would it be permissible to use the Water Wow! toy on Shabbat? Assuming that it is, at the very least, uvda d’chol, what are other issues are there?

Here’s a description of how it works:

The basic concept is that each page is “laminated” with a very thin sheet of paper – almost like tissue paper, but more durable. When the paper is moistened by the water in the pen, it becomes see-through and reveals the picture underneath. There’s no chemical reaction involved.

ANSWER

Had it been that the water was interacting with some chemical to create the color, it obviously would be

5 11, 2023

Reciting Berakhot on Reading Megillat Rut From a Klaf

November 5th, 2023|Chol Hamoed, Moadim, Orach Chayim, Pesach, Purim, Shavuot, Sukkot|

QUESTION

Maryland

We are reading Megillat Rut from a klaf for the first time this year. The Ba’al Koreh told me he would like to say the berakhot of mikrah megillah and shehechiyanu. I thought this was not widely practiced and I was wondering your guidance on the matter.

ANSWER

I am fine making the berakhot when read from a klaf. I think what is not widely practiced is to read it from a klaf. My sense is that the places that do so, do it with a brakha. (See Rema SA OH 390:9,

5 11, 2023

Reciting Shehechiyanu on Joyous Occasions Not Mentioned in Shulchan Aruch

November 5th, 2023|Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Berakhot, Kiddushin and Ketubah, Lifecycles, Orach Chayim, Sheva Berachot|

QUESTION

Toronto, Canada

What are your thoughts about saying shehechiyanu for occasions not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch? For example, can it be recited by parents at shul for the 3rd birthday of a child whose wimpel will be used for gelilah. What about other lifecycle events such as benei mitzvah, or weddings?

There’s certainly simchat ha’lev, which SA OH 223:4 says is the underlying basis for making the berakhah, but on the other hand, are we makpidim (particular) not to extend the berakhah into other experiences?

ANSWER

The first big question here is weddings. Why is

29 10, 2023

Food Brought by Car or Without an Eruv on Shabbat

October 29th, 2023|Eiruv, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Israel

There is someone who meets her elderly parents for Shabbat together with her two siblings, who are not religious. Everyone shares the food preparation, and my friend wonders whether she is allowed to eat the food they bring. The food that is being brought is kosher and not cooked on Shabbat, but will be brought in a car on Shabbat or carried through an area without an eruv.

ANSWER

The short answer is, yes, the food may be eaten. In this case, we are dealing with the issue of ma’aseh shabbat when the food was carried without an eruv (or driven), but

Early Ma’ariv on Motzei Yom Tov When it Will be Difficult to Get a Minyan at a Later Time

12 06, 2023

Early Ma’ariv on Motzei Yom Tov When it Will be Difficult to Get a Minyan at a Later Time

June 12th, 2023|Minyan, Orach Chayim, Shacharit, Mincha and Ma'ariv, Shema and Shemoneh Esrei, Tefillah|

QUESTION

Boston, MA

I daven in a backyard minyan that typically only meets on Friday nights. We also gather for Yom Tov Mincha-Ma’ariv. Often on motzei yom tov we cannot keep a minyan for Ma’ariv as some men don’t want to wait and end up leaving after Mincha.

Would it be permissible to daven Ma’ariv early betzibur? (The Beit Yosef OC 293 says it’s ok for a yachid when there’s tzorekh, but I believe it is clear that this would apply for a tzibur. As well, I wonder if whether or not losing a

Fasting on Tisha B’Av When Breaking The Fast Will Cause Extreme Nausea

7 05, 2023

Fasting on Tisha B’Av When Breaking The Fast Will Cause Extreme Nausea

May 7th, 2023|Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

https://pixabay.com/photos/dishes-white-plate-stemware-938747/

QUESTION

Houston, TX

A woman from my shul has the following issue with fasting:

Although she is fine while fasting, experiencing only headaches, she becomes extremely nauseous when she eats after the fast, and can’t keep any food down for a few hours. What should I tell her regarding fasting on Tisha BeAv?

ANSWER

This is a tricky one, since it is not the fasting that makes her nauseous, but the eating afterward.

One way to approach this would

Meat During the Nine Days for Those with Advanced Dementia

30 04, 2023

Meat During the Nine Days for Those with Advanced Dementia

April 30th, 2023|Minhag, Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

https://pixabay.com/photos/barbecue-barbeque-bbq-beef-1239434/

QUESTION

Riverdale, NY

For those with advanced dementia, does the Minhag of avoiding meat during the nine days not apply?

I would think they wouldn’t gain anything from the Minhag, as they wouldn’t understand the reason for it. And avoiding meat might make it harder to get the nutrition they need.

30 04, 2023

Eating at a Table Partially Outside of the Eiruv

April 30th, 2023|Eiruv, Orach Chayim, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Maryland

This is a makeshift eruv set up at a cabin. The eruv goes over the table so that half of the table is inside the eiruv and half outside. More of a theoretical question: I know there is a similar question regarding sukkah, but is there an issue if ראשו ורובו בתוך הערוב ושלחנו חוץ לערוב—having your entire body within an eruv, but a part of the table at which you’re eating outside an eruv?

Any issue with eating at

30 04, 2023

Construction to Make a Shul ADA-Accessible through Non Jewish Workers on Shabbat

April 30th, 2023|Amirah LeGoy, Disabilities, Orach Chayim, Shabbat|

QUESTION

Washington, DC.

We are engaged in what is proving to be an endless construction project at our shul. Part of it includes making the building ADA-accessible. The contractor has requested to be able to work on the interior of the building from 12-8 PM on Saturdays, at a time when no one is around. If we stipulate that they must remain inside the building and strictly adhere to the hours so as to avoid disruption to Shacharit and Mincha, would that

23 04, 2023

Aveil Serving as Shaliach Tzibur on Shabbat, Yom Tov or Yamim Noraim When No Other is As Qualified

April 23rd, 2023|Aveilut, Orach Chayim, Tefillah, Yoreh De'ah|

QUESTION

Houston, TX

We have a small congregation and there are not a lot of congregants who can serve as shaliach tzibur on Shabbat. We want shlichei tzibur who can uplift the kehillah with singing and proper nusach. Under these circumstances, is it permissible for an aveil (mourning) to serve shaliach tzibur? This question is even more acute for the Yamim Noraim.

ANSWER

Yes, it is permitted.

Even the Rema (YD 376:4) who rules that an aveil should not be a shaliach tzibur on Shabbat and Yom

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